Financial services conglomerate Sagicor Group on Wednesday awarded over $3 million in scholarships to 132 students at the primary and secondary school levels under its Corporate Staff Education Fund.

The fund is developed through team members’ voluntary contributions of a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $2,000 per child per month, which is matched by the company.

“The number and value of awards therefore made each year are directly linked to the level of financial support given by team members,” assistant manager public relations, group marketing manager Suzette Shaw-Reid told the

Jamaica Observer.

At the award ceremony held at Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited in New Kingston, Sagicor’s employee of the year Andre Latchman encouraged a similar spirit of voluntarism among the students.

“Teach your child to volunteer and not expect reward for all the work they do,” he urged parents and guardians.

Latchman, who was guest speaker, also urged parents to help their children to set goals and to be their accountability partner.

“If you are going to be your child’s accountability partner and if your child did that homework ahead of time, celebrate with them. Give them a kind word,” he advised.

To the students, Latchman preached the importance of taking responsibility for their education.

“You need to show up to your classes and be present in the moment. Your teachers and parents can do everything in the world, but if you don’t take responsibility, you will not have the kind of success that you can have,” he said.

“You will fall from time to time, but when you fall make sure you are prepared and ready to get up. Try not to give in to peer pressure,” he continued.

Latchman is employed as assistant manager, Learning and Development, Group Human Resources.

In his remarks, Vice-President of Group Human Resources, Sagicor Life Jamaica, Karl Williams, urged the recipients to develop values such as integrity and teamwork at an early age.

“We want to rise up and invest in leaders, and this function is a stellar event in investing in leaders, persons who will be the change agents and the champions to take us into the next century,” Williams said.

Sagicor’s Corporate Staff Education Fund is in its 25th year. It is open to the biological, legally adopted and stepchildren of all permanent team members. Eligibility rests on maintaining a B+ average, demonstrating good character and integrity, and showing leadership potential and interest in the wider society through extra-curricular activities.

The fund awarded an average of 110 awards over the last two years.